Riyaz Patel
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has acceded to a request by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) that a joint hearing be conducted into the Life Esidimeni deaths, four years after the tragic episode.
He has requested that Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo designate a judge to preside over an inquest in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
This move comes after the acting director of public prosecutions in Gauteng, advocate George Baloyi, referred the docket for a formal inquest in September last year.
Investigators were unable to gather enough evidence to bring charges against anyone linked to the deaths in 144 cases it probed.
The process “revealed that the evidence at our disposal currently, is not enough to prove causation of death nor is it enough to help us link the actions of different role players to the eventual deaths,” NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.
In total, 144 psychiatric patients died, many
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Start your free trial today.
Start your FREE trial nowNeed help? sibandzetk88@gmail.com
